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The view from the eyes of Austin Staton

Tag Archives: D’Juan Hines

Last night at Cowboys Stadium, Spring Dekaney snapped Cibolo Steele’s 28-game winning streak and clinched the Class 5A Division II State Championship – the first football title for Spring ISD. On several occasions this year I’ve had numerous opportunities to cover the program as they feature one of the most talented running backs and an exciting offensive attack. Below is a feature I wrote for VYPE Houston after the Wildcats jumped out to a 5-0 start this season.

Here Come The Dekaney Wildcatsby Austin Staton

Growing pains are inherent. However, it is the resilient nature and yearning for success that breeds champions and builds character.

Four years ago, Dekaney High School fielded their first varsity football team under the direction of first-year head coach, Willie Amendola. Things weren’t easy as the squad didn’t feature a senior class and was bleak on upperclassmen as many student-athletes that were originally zoned to Dekaney opted to petition the district to stay at more traditional powers, Westfield and Spring.

With only an eight-game schedule due to Hurricane Ike, the Wildcats were winless in their first season of varsity competition. Moreover, they were outscored by nearly 35 points a game in district play and never crossed the goal-line more than twice per contest.

In both years two and three of the Amendola era, Dekaney began to provide hope for the program as they posted a 5-1 start during the 2009 season and finished the 2010 season with a 6-4 record with all four losses coming by a combined 13 points – including a pair of one point defeats at the hands of Tomball and Westfield.

That was the then.

With one of the most explosive and athletic running backs in the state of Texas in Trey Williams leading this season’s squad, the Wildcats are primed for their first playoff berth.

As an offense, Dekaney averaged more than 44 points per game through the first four games of the season. Finally catching the eyes of pundits across the Houston area, the Wildcats were set for a homecoming showdown with perennial power Klein Collins with a chance to stake their claim as one of the elite teams in the talent-rich district 13-5A.

Behind the efforts of Williams’ 215-plus total yards and three touchdowns – two rushing and one receiving – and D’Juan Hines’ four passing touchdowns, Dekaney clinched the programs’ first win over Klein Collins as they dropped the Tigers, 42-31, moving to 5-0 on the season.

“As a team we’ve talked about finishing (all season),” said Amendola. “We are more consistent throwing the football and the passing game is one of the biggest differences between this team and some of the other teams that we’ve had in the past.”

“The win against Klein Collins gave us a lot of confidence and we needed the win to show everybody that we’re here and we’re coming,” added Hines.

Through five games, Hines has completed 60 percent of his passes for 541 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Perhaps the best-kept secret on the team is Hines’ favorite target, Austin Garrett. The 6-foot-3 receiver possesses standout athletic prowess with the ability to make critical adjustments to the ball while it is in flight. Of his nine receptions on the season, the senior receiver has recorded five touchdowns and is averaging 25 yards per catch.

“All you have to do is throw it to this guy (Austin Garrett) and he is going to make a play,” said Williams, a Texas A&M commit.

In just four short years, Dekaney has formed a close knit group of student-athletes that look after each other and have a will to succeed. Off to a 2-0 start in the ultra-competitive North Houston district, the Wildcats are right where they want to be – in the mix for their first playoff berth.

“We’ve wanted to make the playoffs for three-straight years and our time is now,” said Garrett.

“This is a team game,” added Williams. “We’re a confident team and we have a lot of team leadership and team unity. We plan on making it and hopefully God can keep blessing us to do well and protect our athletes.”